1636 Europa Exactissime Descripta Auctore Judoco Hondio
By: Jodocus Hondius II / Jean Boisseau
Date: 1636 (dated) Paris
Dimensions: 14.75 x 19.75 inches (37.5 x 50 cm)
This gorgeous, highly detailed decorative map of Europe is the very rare state of Hondius's map of Europe published in "Theatre des Gaules," by Jean Boisseau in 1637. The state is identified by the descriptive cartouche in the upper right quadrant which usually references Henricus Hondius but here references Judoco.
The territory covered includes all of Europe, Greenland and Iceland, and extends into Asia and Asia Minor, plus northern Africa and the Levant. It contains an enormous amount of information including ports, settlements, towns and cities, river systems and lakes, mountain ranges, flora and fauna. Its decorative features include two magnificent cartouches, ships of different kinds sailing the seas, a fanciful sea monster frolicking in the Atlantic and vignettes of wildlife in Asia and Africa.
This map also includes the mythical or false island of Frisland Frisland located near Iceland and Greenland in the North Atlantic. Its origins date back to the 15th century when the Zeno brother, Venitian cartographers and explorers. It is believed to be based on their voyages to the North Atlantic, though historical evidence for their travels remains scarce. Some scholars suggest that the Zeno brothers might have created Frisland based on stories or rumors about unexplored territories. As time went on and more expeditions of exploration launched into the Atlantic, the Island soon disappeared from maps.
Condition: Map is in B condition inn its original uncolored state with a strong impression on clean paper with full margins. There are two areas of light damp staining (west of France and in Black Sea) with three small pinholes that have been closed and reinforced on the verso with archival material.
Inventory #11616
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